Play Details
Context
Artistic Director
Max Stafford-Clark
Co-production with Women’s Playhouse Trust
Dates Performed
Thursday 11th February 1988
Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
Play Details
Synopsis
A house (bathroom) and street. England, 80s
Mary kneels before the bathtub, arms submerged in murky dye, her once-pristine party dress now a defiant shade of rebellion. In this claustrophobic bathroom, a crucible of female anxiety and desire, three young women navigate the treacherous waters of body image, sexual fantasy, and societal expectations. Jo, a whirlwind of insecurity and bravado, vacillates between dreams of glamorous transformation and raw, unflinching self-loathing. Meanwhile, Celia clings to a facade of put-together femininity, her carefully constructed image as fragile as the makeup she meticulously applies.
As the women prepare for a party, their conversation veers from lighthearted banter to searing confessions, exposing the deep-seated fears and desires that simmer beneath the surface. Mary, haunted by a recent sexual harassment incident, grapples with her trauma through surreal, vivid monologues that blur the lines between reality and nightmare. Jo’s elaborate sexual fantasies burst forth in technicolor detail, a stark contrast to her relentless self-criticism. Through their raw, often darkly humorous exchanges, McIntyre peels back the layers of performative femininity to reveal the complex, contradictory inner lives of these women. The bathroom becomes both confessional and battleground, where societal pressures collide with personal truths, and the omnipresent male gaze is confronted, challenged, and ultimately subverted.
Cast & Creative
Cast
Lorraine Brunning
Cast
Alaine Hickmott
Cast
Caroline Quentin
Designer
Lucy Weller
Lighting
Stephen Watson
What our readers say
In a setting dominated by male perspectives, three women gather to discuss their experiences as females. They tackle issues from personal safety to societal expectations, offering a deep look into the challenges women face daily. Their interactions give us a candid glimpse of life as a woman in a world that often overlooks them.
What is it like reading this play now?
The play feels like it could have been written today, which is quite disheartening. Even as we navigate through fourth-wave feminism, the narrative still underscores that it’s not women who are the problem. Women shouldn’t be asked to change how they look or act to dodge harm; the issue lies in the patriarchal mindset and prevailing misogyny. Some language does betray its 80s roots, especially regarding body image and the more pronounced fatphobia of that era.
What plays does it speak to/influence?
The Vagina Monologues, Women Beware the Devil.
What films or music does it make you think of?
Films like Juno or Easy A, with less comedy, centre on women’s experiences but are casual and relatable characters. Music, because of the characters, makes me think of 80s pop, ‘sexy’ but probably toxic men and women singing about love. Or Patti Smith.
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